how to get a "permanent" Schengen visa

[ca.funke]

pretty unbelievable...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qgN-MzcF18

Some minor details in the film are not correct, but the idea is cool

[mastermind]

What's wrong with those people? If you can afford to throw away 3-10K Euros (mentioned in the video, what they spend to "increase their chances") I'm pretty sure you can get a visa without such tricks.
Wealthy but ignorant?

[ca.funke]

Wealthy but ignorant?

I´d say: Fed up from a totally unpredictable visasystem...

...after all, there´s never a guarantee for anything, let alone to get a multiple.

This is especially frustrating, if you really just want to occasionally visit.

Comparing the EU-"system" to the US makes us look pretty bad. I know several ppl. (Indian, Lebanese) who had to apply for a US visa, and got 10-years multi-entry on their first attempt, without even asking for multi.

[mastermind]

I totally agree with you about the system.
But it's not if they even get a guarantee. They merely try to "increase their chances".

[ca.funke]

But it's not if they even get a guarantee. They merely try to "increase their chances".

I´m not sure what you mean?

Once you have a residence permit for the "flat" in Estonia, you can use that RP to freely travel throughout Schengen at all times, without applying for anything!

[mastermind]

From the video's description: "Owning real estate in Estonia is no guarantee that they'll get a visa, but it greatly increases their chances."

[ca.funke]

From the video's description: "Owning real estate in Estonia is no guarantee that they'll get a visa, but it greatly increases their chances."

That´s one of the "minor" mistakes I was talking about. Here are all that I find:

From the video:

• 1:07 the reporter talks about the "RP" that Estonia grants. (correct)
• 1:14 "entry ticket into all of the European Union" (correct would be "all Schengen-Countries")
• 2:35 "European Union visas" (do not exist, he probably means "Schengen")
• 2:45 "EU Schengen Area" (what that´s supposed to be will remain their secret, probably means Schengen)

From the description:

...Owning property in the EU makes it easier for them to obtain a no-borders Schengen visa.Owning real estate in Estonia is no guarantee that they'll get a visa, but it greatly increases their chances...

• It will remain their secret what a "no-borders Schengen visa" is supposed to be.
• As per video (1:07) they mean RP´s, and these grant full access.
• "Owning real estate in Estonia is no guarantee that they'll get a visa" - Actually it´s a guarantee that they will never get a visa, because they will never need one anymore. Maybe an Estonian RP increases chances for visas in the UK, but that´d be another topic.

[mastermind]

I'd say an RP is a kind of visa (by the way if I remember correctly the schengen code mentions both "long term visas" and RPs which are very similar), and they (in the video and the description) do not seem to differentiate between the two.
Yes, it is said in the video that "Estonia grants RPs to property owners" but it does not mean it is guaranteed.

[mastermind]

As to the "no-borders Schengen visa" meaning, my guess is that "no-borders" pertains only to "Schengen" in that phrase, not to "Schengen visa".

[ca.funke]

...Yes, it is said in the video that "Estonia grants RPs to property owners" but it does not mean it is guaranteed...

I guess if you own a regular property in which you intend to live, you need a RP. Otherwise you´d be illegal in your own house.

However, if you own a flat without water/electricity/heating, but want to register your whole family there, it´s sort-a-obvious what´s going on Maybe in this case a RP is actually sometimes refused (=not guaranteed).

What I find specifically tragic is this: The people who do this obviously do not want to live inside Schengen. They want to visit "sometimes", without having to apply for visas. I´m pretty sure if they could obtain 10-year-multi-entry they wouldn´t go this detour. It´s very senseless due to EU-policies that seem to come from the moon.

[mastermind]

I guess if you own a regular property in which you intend to live, you need a RP. Otherwise you´d be illegal in your own house.

The thing is that owning a property and intending to live there does not guarantee a RP in most countries, including EU ones. In fact only a few of them consider owning a property as positive factor visa/RP-wise.
So it is even worse: You are free to bring your money to buy property but not free to use it.
Considering this state of affairs I do not see why would it be a "guarantee" in Estonia. Most likely what the video description says: increasing the chances but there are still a lot of discretion.

What I find specifically tragic is this: The people who do this obviously do not want to live inside Schengen. They want to visit "sometimes", without having to apply for visas. I´m pretty sure if they could obtain 10-year-multi-entry they wouldn´t go this detour. It´s very senseless due to EU-policies that seem to come from the moon.

I agree that the EU (Schengen particularly) visa policies are insane, and the procedures are cumbersome. My personal take on it is do not go there unless I absolutely need to (business etc.), it is their loss, I can always spend my money elsewhere. (well, I live in the EU but outside Schengen, but that's another story)

[ca.funke]

...I agree that the EU (Schengen particularly) visa policies are insane, and the procedures are cumbersome...

I can´t find it now, but I remember news about an Iraqi government delegation that wanted to buy helicopters in France for several million €s.

France told them, that they have to apply for their visas in the French Embassy in Amman/Jordan, where they were told that it´ll take a few days...

Furiously they went to the UK embassy. After verifying the story they got their UK visas immediately.

Surprise, surprise: Their order in France was cancelled, they bought their helicopters from the UK instead.

I´m pretty sure there are similar stories the other way around, but it just shows what influence visa-decisions combined with unprofessional staff can have.